Boreas Ponds debate continues

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by Matt Ryan on

This past May, the state announced the completion of the largest land acquisition in more than 100 years. It marked the final purchase from a 2012 agreement with the Nature Conservancy. The Boreas Ponds tract has been called the "crown jewel" of the Adirondacks by some environmentalists.

Over the past month the Adirondack Park Agency has been conducting public hearings where people across New York can have input on how the land should be classified. The biggest question: Should the land be designated as "wild forest" or "wilderness?" The vocabulary might not seem like a big difference but it's at the very heart of the debate.

The last two public hearings are this week. Tuesday at 7pm at the Bear Mountain Inn (3020 Seven Lakes Drive, Tomkins Cove) and 2pm Wednesday at the DEC Building in Albany.